Just a quick song to get your weekend started. I LOVE Echosmith. They have such a clean sound and no matter how stressed I am, they can put me in a good mood.
“This is a short race, this is a short life
Let’s run, not walk, through this beautiful life
This is a good day, this is a good sign
You’ve got green eyes and I’ve got sunrise
We’re falling sideways, big lights freeways
Heart beats through me, through this beautiful life”
Oh boy, are we all are all in the thick of Valentine’s Day marketing or what? I was at the gym just today and I noticed an advertisement on the TV for a 9 FOOT TALL Teddy Bear. Um. Ok. That’s not even cute. That’s downright creepy. What would you even do with that? I’m not sure my ceiling is even that tall. Anyway, upon completing my workout, I hopped in my car and the satellite radio started blaring that I have been given the rare opportunity to purchase a 24k Gold-Dipped Rose to show my undying love to my non-existent girlfriend. Ok, I guess that’s pretty cute. Well in only 2 short days, the big day will be here. Those of us who are single have a choice. Are we gonna mope around or take matters into our own hands? Without further ado, here are a handful of suggestions I have for any single person to make the best of this holiday.
First of all, Valentines Day should not be solely about romantic love but rather a chance to spend time with those you love. If you’re looking for something to do, consider texting/calling a couple of old friends you haven’t seen in a while. Life has a way of pulling people apart, so try and make plans with them ASAP. It can be as simple as going to see a movie or having them over for dinner. Chances are, at least one of your old friends is still as single as you are, and this could be a great way to re-kindle that friendship.
Next, consider how you can show love to those around you that you may not ordinarily have any contact with. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in ourselves this time of year when there are so many people out there that are hurting. So consider volunteering your evening or going shopping for a local soup kitchen or women’s shelter. A quick Google search will turn up places nearby that could use your help. Even better, invite a single friend to go with you! Working together to achieve something meaningful is a surefire way to wisely use your Valentines Day.
Finally, if you are truly looking for romance on Valentines Day, do not just sit around and wait for that person to come to you. My friends over at Christian Mingle recently re-vamped their website and, I have to say, it looks awesome! Thanks to the gift of the Internet, there are now more ways than ever to meet people who share your beliefs. Christian Mingle works incredibly hard to connect it’s users with other quality people of faith. Don’t just take my word for it: Christian Mingle has helped to create more lasting relationships than any other dating site on the net.
In fact, they care so deeply about building meaningful relationships that they are hosting a contest entitled “#MeetMeOnMingle”. Users will submit a photo for a chance to win $1,000 and be the face of a major brand! You owe it to yourself to see what they offer. You may well discover that awesome person you’ve been looking for. Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed!
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by my friends over at Christian Mingle. They had no editorial control over this post. All thoughts and offensive grammar mistakes are my own.
Did you know that every single day 21 Americans Die while waiting for an organ donor? Furthermore, there are some 120,000 people waiting to receive a vital organ.
My friends at Organize are doing something about this crisis. It’s so easy to register to be an organ donor, it costs you nothing, and it ensures that your legacy continues on after you’re gone.
This Valentine’s Day, do something that really matters. Register to be an organ donor. It takes about 30 seconds and can even be done via Tweet! (You read that right)
Just click here or tweet #DonateMyParts!
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a HUGE Twitter Fanatic. Seriously, it’s a borderline addiction.
It all began when I started tweeting back in 2009 to my audience of zero. They were blown away by my first profound and life-changing message.
Take a look:
Can't wait to see her again.
— Daniel Bostic (@debostic) February 2, 2009
Ah, high-school drama.
Moving along….
Things have changed a little bit since then. The girl is long gone, but I can honestly say that Twitter has in many ways changed my life. I have made new friends entirely off Twitter, had news stories written about what I’ve said or who I’ve fought with (seriously, be careful), I have booked projects solely from valued contacts on the site, and I now have around 168,000 followers. This social experiment has provided me with an incredible way to connect to people all over the world.
It’s impossible to address all aspects of Twitter in one article but for now, we will focus on 3 key areas to supercharge your Twitter game.
It’s easy to skimp on social media profiles. The fact is, we live in 2015. For better or worse, people will frequently base their initial impression of you on what your little self-written blurb says. For starters – keep it brief and use only the highlights. Don’t try and cram every single achievement in your bio. If your bio reads like this then you may have a problem:
“Famous on Social Media, Over 45k Instagram Followers, Award Winning Blogger Published once on Huffington Post, I own a Maserati”
OK, they aren’t USUALLY that bad, but seriously, be humble and keep it brief. You want to leave people with the desire to learn more about what you have to say. Nothing is more unattractive than arrogance.
Political tweeter/power player @Ali has an example of a great profile.
Take notice – he says what he does, what organizations he is associated with, and isn’t afraid to use humor and poke fun at himself. His profile gives him credibility but doesn’t come off as arrogant.
Too many people assume Twitter is Facebookok with shorter posts and fewer FarmVille invites. This is partially true, but Twitter is designed around meeting people and getting their take on life. Don’t be afraid follow and interact with complete strangers! It may be deemed “creepy” on other platforms, but if someone has a public Twitter account I consider it an open door to communicate. Example: If you’re into cooking – run a quick search for cooking, scroll through the articles, and if you find a fabulous recipe for Chicken Cordon Bleu then let the author know you loved it and give them a follow! Another example: if you get a new follower, shoot them a message (preferably publicly) and say thanks. As your account grows it will become harder to keep up with each one, but it is important to realize that Twitter is a two-way street. Above all, do not fake interest. Automatic DM services are the worst. They say, “I don’t really care that much about us making a connection, but I want to pretend like I do.” They’re a nuisance, fodder for hackers, and they do not help you form relationships in any way. Reaching out with authenticity is how you build connections, learn new ideas, and form new friendships.
People often ask me something along the lines of “How can I get more followers?” While there isn’t an easy answer to that question, there is one surefire way to connect with a larger audience. Go with the Trending Topic flow. Notice a magnifying glass in the upper left-hand corner of your app? Hit it. This is a list about what Twitter is talking about and it can sometimes be a fairly reliable indicator of what is buzzing in the digital world. Use trending topics to your advantage. You shouldn’t tweet about every single topic, but if you have an opinion on something that you are interested in, use the appropriate hashtag and speak up!
In the instance below the American Music Awards were trending and the internet was consumed with what celebrities were wearing, who arrived with who, and the winners reactions. In this instance, I didn’t even watch the AMAs but I did tie in my love of all things Adele to what was happening. Live-tweeting current events and trending topics is a great way to establish yourself on Twitter. You will find that many people who like what you have to say will follow you, like your posts, and re-tweet you.
Everyone had to get their #AMAs awards this year because next year Adele is going to take them all ???
— Daniel Bostic (@debostic) November 23, 2015
It is important to remember that you should only comment on a current news topic if it is something you are interested in or have an opinion on. The key to this is authenticity.
Well that’s all for now. I hope this helps! Please feel free to hit me up with any questions, comments, critiques, or gas station gift cards.
xo,
Daniel
Ah #BlackFriday that sensational day where not 12 hours after giving thanks, people will do anything to get more stuff and save some cash. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the video below. (Believe me there’s plenty more where this one came from)
WORRRRLDSTAAAAAR pic.twitter.com/SEuGy40nwR
— yung wifi (@DaddyWeaknd) November 27, 2015
Need I say more? Sure, this isn’t norm, but let’s contrast this with the other piece of breaking news that hit the interwebz today. At Arlington National Cemetary, over 30,000 graves will not have Christmas wreaths placed on them this year. Why? Because the organization Wreathes Across America has failed to receive enough donations to honor the men and women that have died for our right to live in a free society. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting a good deal. In fact, I intend to use this blog to share some of my favorite deals and maybe even some exclusive sales.
All I’m saying is this: wouldn’t it be a beautiful thing if, on the day when everyone is focused on what they can get, Americans could come together and donate a couple of those dollars they saved to honor a soldier who gave their all for us?
Seriously, it’s only $15 and it would show the world that our priorities are in the right place. So who’s with me?
photo credit: Arlington National Cemetary via photopin (license)